Michigan turns pink

Supporting Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Oct. 1, 2025

Pumpkins, vibrant leaves, hay rides, festivals and pink.

October is the first full month of fall, and is designated as Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Each October, Michigan joins the efforts to increase awareness and understanding about the disease that affects millions.

Consider these numbers:

• In Michigan, 53% of breast cancer cases are diagnosed at the localized stage, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services; when diagnosed at the localized stage, approximately 95% of women survive five years.
• Estimates based on the most recent available date indicated that Michigan would experience more than 9,400 new cases of breast cancer Breast Cancer in Michigan in 2024.
• In 2025, an estimated 320,000 people—including 2,800 men—will be diagnosed with breast cancer in the U.S.

Awareness and understanding of the disease are essential in leading to early detection and treatment, according to the American Cancer Society.

 

“Health and safety are part of our fabric, which includes creating awareness within our communities about the importance of understanding the risks and early detection for breast cancer.”

—Kirstie Staelens, Enbridge senior advisor of community engagement in Michigan

Michigan’s role in efforts to treat and cure cancer can’t be understated.

On Sept. 16, Michigan State University (MSU) received the American Association for the Advancement of Science Golden Goose Award. The national award recognized MSU for its breakthrough cancer treatment.

“Some very fundamental work studying bacterial cell division led to the most important cancer drug we have today, Cisplatin,” said Doug Gage, vice president for MSU Research and Innovation.

Supporting research and early detection

“We congratulate MSU on receiving an award that plays such a pivotal role in battling a relentless disease,” said Kirstie Staelens. Enbridge’s senior advisor of community engagement in Michigan.

“Most Michiganders are accustomed to Enbridge Line 5 providing their heat, fuel and thousands of other everyday products,” continued Staelens.

“Lesser known is understanding that Line 5 transports the light crude oil and natural gas liquids essential to the manufacture of medical equipment, medicines and prosthetics often used in the detection and treatment of breast and other cancers.”

With early detection and breakthrough treatments, approximately 18.6 million people, or one in 18 Americans, were cancer survivors as of January 2025, according to the American Cancer Society.

With advancements in screening, diagnosis and treatment, the survival numbers are expected to surpass 22 million over the next 10 years.